ONIVERBITT  OF  CALIfOBHIA  PUBLICATIONS 

COLLEGE  OF  AGRICULTURE 

AGRICULTURAL  EXPERIMENT  STATION 

BERKELEY,  CALIFORNIA 


THE   VALUE   OF   BARLEY  FOR   COWS 

FED   ALFALFA 


BY 


GORDON    H.  TRUE,  F.  W.  WOLL,  AND  E.  C.  VOORHIES 


Cows  fed  Alfalfa  in  Feeding  Backs  in  the  Corral 

BULLETIN  No.  256 

Berkeley,  Cal.,  June,  1915 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  PRESS 
BERKELEY 
1915 


Benjamin  Ide  Wheeler,  President  of  the  University. 
EXPERIMENT  STATION  STAFF 

HEADS  OP  DIVISIONS 

Thomas  Forsyth  Hunt,  Director. 

Eugene  W.  Hilgard,  Agricultural  Chemistry  (Emeritus). 

Edward  J.  Wickson,  Horticulture. 

Herbert  J.  Webber,  Director  Citrus  Experiment  Station ;  Plant  Breeding. 

Hubert  E.  Van  Norman,  Vice-Director;  Dairy  Management. 

William  A.  Setchell,  Botany. 

Myer  E.  Jaffa,  Nutrition. 

Robert  H.  Loughridge,  Soil  Chemistry  and  Physics  (Emeritus). 

Charles  W.  Woodworth,  Entomology. 

Ralph  E.  Smith,  Plant  Pathology. 

J.  Eliot  Coit,  Citriculture. 

John  W.  Gilmore,  Agronomy. 

Charles  F.  Shaw,  Soil  Technology. 

John  W.  Gregg,  Landscape  Gardening  and  Floriculture. 

Frederic  T.  Bioletti,  Viticulture  and  Enology. 

Warren  T.  Clarke,  Agricultural  Extension. 

John  S.  Burd,  Agricultural  Chemistry. 

Charles  B.  Lipman,  Soil  Chemistry  and  Bacteriology. 

Clarence  M.  Haring,  Veterinary  Science  and  Bacteriology. 

Ernest  B.  Babcock,  Genetics. 

Gordon  H.  True,  Animal  Husbandry. 

James  T.  Barrett,  Plant  Pathology. 

Fritz  W.  Woll,  Animal  Nutrition. 

A.  V.  Stubenrauch,  Pomology. 

Walter  Mulford,  Forestry. 

W.  P.  Kelley,  Agricultural  Chemistry. 

H.  J.  Quayle,  Entomology. 

William  G.  Hummell,  Agricultural  Education. 

Leon  M.  Davis,  Dairy  Industry. 

John  E.  Dougherty,  Poultry  Husbandry. 

Frank  Adams,  Irrigation  Practice. 

David  N.  Morgan,  Assistant  to  the  Director. 

Mrs.  D.  L.  Bunnell,  Librarian. 

DIVISION  OF  ANIMAL  HUSBANDRY 
Gordon  H.  True  R.  F.  Miller 

F.  W.  Woll  E.  C.  Voorhies 

J.  I.  Thompson  Chas.  Burge 

V.  F.  Dolcini 


THE  VALUE  OF  BARLEY  FOR  COWS 

FED  ALFALFA 

By  GORDON  H.  TRUE,  F.  W.  WOLL,  and  E.  C.  VOORHIES 


The  majority  of  dairy  farmers  in  the  irrigated  valleys  of  our  state 
depend  upon  alfalfa  for  feeding  their  cows,  and  as  a  rule  these  receive 
no  other  feed  the  year  round.  The  cows  are  pastured  on  alfalfa  during 
the  summer  or  are  fed  green  alfalfa  in  feed  racks  in  corrals,  and  during 
the  winter  season  they  are  fed  alfalfa  hay  either  in  the  corral  or  in 
the  barn.  Alfalfa  belongs  to  the  class  of  feeding  stuffs  known  as 
protein  feeds,  which  contain  relatively  large  proportions  of  flesh- 
forming  substances  (protein)  and  are  correspondingly  low  in  starchy 
or  heat-producing  substances  (so-called  carbohydrates).  Investiga- 
tions of  problems  connected  with  the  feeding  of  dairy  cows  have  shown 
that  a  ratio  of  about  one  part  of  the  former  class  of  components  to 
five  or  six  of  the  latter  is  theoretically  best  suited  to  the  production 
of  milk,  in  the  case  of  ordinary  dairy  cows,  and  that  only  cows  of 
exceptional  capacity  for  dairy  production  can  make  economical  use 
of  a  larger  proportion  of  protein  substances.  The  proportion  of  digest- 
ible carbohydrates  and  fat  in  feeding  stuffs  is  known  as  the  nutritive 
ratio;  in  the  case  of  green  alfalfa  or  alfalfa  hay  this  is  approximately 
1 :4,  meaning  that  there  are  four  times  as  much  digestible  carbohy- 
drates and  fat  as  digestible  protein  in  this  crop.  On  theoretical 
grounds  we  should,  therefore,  expect  that  an  exclusive  alfalfa  ration 
for  dairy  cows  might  be  improved  upon  by  the  addition  of  some  feeds 
relatively  low  in  protein,  like  Indian  corn  fodder  or  silage,  grain  hay, 
sorghum  crops,  roots,  or  concentrates  like  the  cereal  grains,  flour-mill 
feeds,  etc.  While  very  little  direct  evidence  bearing  on  this  question 
is  at  hand,  the  practice  among  many  dairy  farmers  has  been  to  sup- 
plement alfalfa  with  feeds  like  those  mentioned,  especially  corn  silage 
or  barley,  or  both,  and  this  practice  is  apparently  gaining  ground. 
Barley  is  the  main  grain  crop  of  the  state  and,  as  a  rule,  the  cheapest 
concentrate  available  for  feeding  farm  animals;  hence  this  grain  is 
generally  used  for  feeding  our  dairy  cows  supplementary  to  alfalfa. 
In  order  to  secure  definite  information  as  to  the  value  of  this  system 
of  feeding,  the  Animal  Husbandry  Division,  of  this  station  has  taken 
up  the  subject  for  study  and  has  now  conducted  two  experiments  with 
regard  to  this  question,  viz.,  during  the  years  1913  and  1914.  The 
conditions  under  which  the  experiments  were  conducted  and  the  main 
results  obtained  are  briefly  discussed  in  the  following  pages. 

[425] 


426 


UNIVERSITY  OF   CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT  STATION 


I.  EXPERIMENT  CONDUCTED  DURING  THE  SUMMER  OF  1913i 

Fourteen  cows  in  the  University  dairy  herd  were  available  for  this 
experiment.  Two  of  the  cows  were  pure-bred  Jerseys,  one  a  pure- 
bred Holstein,  and  the  remainder  were  grades  which  had  been  pur- 
chased only  a  few  weeks  before  the  experiment  commenced.  But  little 
information  could  be  secured  as  to  the  past  history  of  these  grades, 
but  they  were  all  in  the  early  stages  of  lactation  at  the  beginning  of 
the  experiment.  The  cows  on  the  experiment  were  separated  into  two 
lots  as  nearly  alike  as  possible  with  reference  to  breed,  age,  weight, 
and  production.  The  following  table  shows  the  main  facts  relating 
to  the  history  and  the  production  of  the  cows. 


Lot  A 


Weight,  Age, 

Name  and  Breed  lbs.  yrs. 

Jewel's  Adelaide,  Jersey  1019  5 

Rosie,  Shorthorn  grade  1262  5 

Cherry,  Shorthorn  grade  1169  5 

Roanee,  Shorthorn  grade  865  2 

Hannah,  Holstein  grade  1185  5 

Whittie,  Holstein  grade  961  5 

Peggy,  Holstein  grade  944  3 

Average   1058  4% 


Last  calf 
3/14/13 

Production, 
July  24-30,  1913 

A 

calve, 
months 

(9)* 

7 

Milk, 
lbs. 

76.9 
156.7 
251.7 
121.2 
313.8 
197.9 
283.1 

Butter 
fat,  lbs. 

4.36 
5.64 

5 

9.06 

8 

4.00 

(11)* 

(10)* 

9 

7/16/13 

8.78 
6.92 

9.91 

8.4 


201.2       6.95 


Lot  B 

Due  to 

Name  and  Breed                                  lbs.  yrs.  calve, 

Weight,   Age,   months 

Begonia's  Adelaide,  Jersey  1061       5  8 

Bessie,  Shorthorn  grade  1003       5  6 

Molly,  Shorthorn  grade  1135       5  5 

Helen,  Holstein  grade  1274       7  (9)* 

Blackie,  Holstein  grade  1157       5  6 

Biddie,  Holstein  grade  1003       3  (14)* 

Bess  of  Hopland  Lass,  Holstein  ..  1061       3  7 

Average   1099       4%        7.9 

*  Not  bred  at  beginning  of  experiment. 


Production, 
July  24-30,  1913 


Milk, 

Last  calf  lbs. 

3/9/13  131.4 

212.1 

202.5 

264.9 

110.9 

228.8 

6/8/13  '  229.1 


Butter 
fat,  lbs. 

6.57 
7.63 
8.08 
9.50 
4.44 
8.43 
7.09 


198.0       7.39 


The  animals  on  the  experiment  were  placed  on  one  side  of  the 
University  Farm  dairy  barn,  the  two  lots  being  separated  by  an  alley- 
way.   Two  small  corrals  were  available  and  one  of  them  was  assigned 


i  This  experiment  was  planned  by  Professor  Gordon  H.  True  and  Mr.  E.  C. 
Voorhies,  and  was  conducted  under  the  immediate  supervision  of  the  latter. 


BULLETIN  256         VALUE  OF  BARLEY  FOR  COWS  FED  ALFALFA 


427 


Cherry — grade  Shorthorn 


Peggy — grade  Holstein 


428 


UNIVERSITY  OF   CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT  STATION 


to  each  lot.  The  treatment  accorded  both  lots  of  cows  and  the  conduct 
of  the  experiment,  in  general,  was  identical  for  all  cows  except  as 
regards  the  system  of  feeding  adopted.  The  plan  of  the  experiment 
called  for  three  periods  of  three  weeks  each.  On  account  of  the  ad- 
vanced stage  of  lactation  of  many  cows  on  the  experiment,  it  was 
deemed  best  to  arrange  for  periods  of  this  length.  During  period  I 
the  cows  in  Lot  A  received  30  pounds  of  green  alfalfa  per  day  per 
head,  with  all  the  alfalfa  hay  which  they  would  clean  up.  The  cows 
in  Lot  B  received  the  same  allowance  of  green  alfalfa,  together  with 
what  alfalfa  hay  they  would  eat,  and  were  fed  ground  barley  in  addi- 
tion. The  system  of  feeding  the  cows  during  different  periods  will 
be  seen  from  the  following  statement : 


Period  I 


Period  II 


Period  III 


Lot  A 

fGreen  alfalfa,  30  lbs. 
J  Alfalfa  hay,  ad  lib. 
Ground  barley 

fGreen  alfalfa,  30  lbs. 
)  Hay,  ad  lib. 

fGreen  alfalfa,  30  lbs. 
1  Hay,  ad  lib. 
Ground  barley 


Lot  B 

Green  alfalfa,  30  lbs. 
Alfalfa  hay,  ad  lib. 

Green  alfalfa,  30  lbs. 
Hay,  ad  lib. 
Ground  barley 

Green  alfalfa,  30  lbs. 
Hay,  ad  lib. 


The  green  alfalfa  and  the  ground  barley  were  weighed  out  separ- 
ately for  every  cow  and  were  fed  in  the  dairy  barn.  The  alfalfa  hay 
was  weighed  out  for  each  lot  separately  and  fed  in  hayracks  in  the 
corrals.  Each  cow  received  barley  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of 
milk  produced,  the  ratio  of  grain  to  milk  being  approximately  one 
pound  of  barley  to  every  five  pounds  of  milk  produced  by  the  cows. 

Every  milking  from  the  individual  cows  on  the  experiment  was 
weighed  and  sampled  and  composite  samples  of  each  cow's  milk  were 
tested  every  two  days.  All  cows  were  apparently  in  good  health  and 
ate  their  feed  with  relish  throughout  the  experiment. 

Before  commencing  Period  I  a  preliminary  feeding  of  six  days 
was  introduced  in  order  to  accustom  the  cows  to  the  rations  they  were 
to  receive  during  the  experimental  period.  The  records  of  milk  and 
butter  fat  produced  by  the  cows  during  Period  I  (August  6  to  26. 
1913)  and  the  feed  consumed  during  this  period  for  both  lots  of  cows 
are  given  in  the  following  table: 


Bulletin  256 


VALUE  OF  BARLEY  FOR  COWS  FED  ALFALFA 


420 


Feed  and  Milk  Records,  Period  I,  August  6-21,  1913,  Per  Cow  Per  Week 

Lot  A 

Green      Alfalfa  Ground  Butter  fat 

alfalfa,       hay,  barley,  Milk,        , -*> ^ 

Date                                      lbs.           lbs.            lbs.  lbs.  per  cent       lbs. 

August  6-12 210         157  44.0  215.1  3.4         7.43 

August  13-19  210         157  46.0  212.2  3.5         7.48 

August  20-26  210         143  45.5  210.3  3.5         7.30 

Average    210         152  45.1  212.5  3.5         7.40 


Green 
alfalfa, 
Date  lbs. 

August   6-12    210 

August  13-19  210 

August  20-26 210 

Average    210 


Lot  B 

Alfalfa  Ground 

hay,  barley,  Milk, 

lbs.  lbs.  lbs. 

168          166.9 

172          165.3 

147          154.7 


162 


162.0 


Butter  fat 

a 


per  cent  lbs. 

3.8  6.31 

3.8  6.29 

3.7  5.74 


3.8 


6.12 


The  green  alfalfa  fed  during  this  period  was  only  of  fair  quality. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  period  the  alfalfa  was  nearly  in  full  bloom, 
while  at  the  end  it  was  considerably  past  this  stage  of  growth.  Al- 
though rather  coarse  and  woody,  it  was  eaten  with  relish  by  both  lots 
of  cows,  there  being  but  little  wasted.  During  the  first  two  wreeks  of 
the  period  the  alfalfa  hay  was  rather  poor,  containing  but  few  leaves 
and  tender  stems;  during  the  last  week,  however,  the  quality  of  the 
hay  was  much  improved. 

During  the  second  period  of  the  experiment  (August  27th  to  Sep- 
tember 16th) ,  Lot  A  received  the  ration  fed  to  Lot  B  during  the  first 
period,  green  alfalfa  and  alfalfa  hay,  while  Lot  B  received  ground 
barley  in  addition  to  the  alfalfa.  The  milk  and  butter  fat  records 
and  feed  consumed  by  the  cows  during  this  period  are  as  follows : 


Green 
alfalfa, 
Date  lbs. 

August  27-Sept.  2  ....     210 

September  3-9   210 

September  10-16  210 

Average    210 


Lot  A 

Alfalfa  Ground 

hay,  barley,  Milk, 

lbs.  lbs.  lbs. 

136          182.7 

147          170.2 

155          165.9 


146 


Butter  fat 

A 


per  cent 

3.6 
3.5 
3.6 


172.9 


3.6 


lbs. 
6.54 
5.96 
5.96 

6.15 


430 


UNIVERSITY  OF   CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT   STATION 


Lot  B 


Green 
alfalfa, 
Date  lbs. 

August  27-Sept.  2  ....     210 

September   3-9   210 

September  10-16   210 

Average    210 


Ufalfa 

hay, 

lbs. 

Ground 

barley, 

lbs. 

Milk, 
lbs. 

Buttei 

A 

■  fat 

f 

per  cent 

lbs. 

129 

36.6 

154.6 

3.7 

5.79 

128 

42.7 

168.7 

3.7 

6.18 

120 

39.6 

159.0 
160.8 

3.7 
3.7 

6.18 

126 

39.6 

6.40 

The  green  alfalfa  during  the  first  week  of  Period  II  was  very 
coarse,  while  during  the  second  week  it  was  young  and  tender  and 
contained  but  few  weeds.  On  September  10th  the  green  feed  was 
obtained  from  a  new  alfalfa  field  which  contained  a  large  number  of 
poppies.  The  hay  used  during  this  period  was  of  very  good  quality, 
being  exceptionally  fine  and  leafy. 

The  records  for  Period  III  of  the  experiment,  when  the  rations 
fed  were  similar  to  those  fed  during  Period  I.  are  given  below: 


Feed  and  Milk  Records,  Period  III,  September  17-Octcber  7,  Per  Week 

Per  Cow 

Lot  A 


Average  210 


146.6 


41.4 


176.5 


3.7 


Green 

alfalfa, 

lbs. 

Alfalfa 
hay, 
lbs. 

Ground 
barley, 

lbs.* 

Milk, 
lbs. 

Butter  fat 

A 

Date 

r 

per  cent        lbs. 

September  17-23  ... 

.      210 

126.1 

40.6 

172.9 

3.7         6.47 

September  24-30  ... 

.     210 

150.0 

42.7 

176.3 

3.7         6.66 

October  1-7   

.     210 

163.6 

40.9 

180.1 

3.7         6.72 

6.62 


Lot  B 


Average  210 


151.9 


138.2 


3.8 


Green 

alfalfa, 

lbs. 

Alfalfa 
hay, 
lbs. 

Ground 

barley, 

lbs. 

Milk, 
lbs. 

Butter  fat 

A 

Date 

r 

per  cent        lbs. 

September  17-23  .. 

..      210 

114.0 

135.6 

3.6         5.03 

September  24-30  .. 

..     210 

160.7 

136.9 

3.9         5.43 

October  1-7  

..     210 

180.9 

142.2 

3.9         5.57 

5.34 


During  the  first  two  weeks  of  this  period  the  green  alfalfa  was 
leafy  and  succulent,  and  that  fed  during  the  last  week  was  very 
young,  but  of  good  quality  and  greatly  relished  by  the  cows.  The 
hay  during  the  first  week  was  of  fair  quality,  but  during  the  last  two 
weeks  it  was  very  coarse  and  had  but  few  leaves. 

If  the  data  for  the  three  periods  in  which  the  ration  consisted 
of  barley  and  alfalfa  are  added  together,  and  likewise  those  for  the 


Bulletin  256        value  of  barley  for  cows  fed  alfalfa  431 

periods  where  the  ration  consisted  solely  of  alfalfa,  we  have  the  fol- 
lowing average  results : 

Average  Results  for  Alfalfa  Periods  and  Alfalfa-Barley  Periods  Per  Week 

Green      Alfalfa  Butter  fat 

alfalfa,        hay,      Barley,        Milk,        , A ^ 

lbs.  lbs.  lbs.  lbs.         per  cent        lbs. 

Alfalfa  and  barley  periods  210         141         42         183.3         3.6         6.65 

Alfalfa  periods 210         153       157.6         3.7         5.87 

Difference    12         42  25.7         0.1         0.78 


It  will  be  seen  that  25.7  pounds  more  milk  and  .78  pound  more 
butter  fat  was  produced  per  head  per  week  when  the  cows  received 
barley  and  alfalfa  than  when  they  were  fed  alfalfa  only;  there  was, 
therefore,  an  increase  in  production  of  16  per  cent  milk  and  13  per  cent 
butter  fat,  incident  to  feeding  barley  in  addition  to  alfalfa.  While 
on  alfalfa  and  barley  the  cows  ate  42  pounds  of  barley  and  12  pounds 
less  of  alfalfa  hay  per  head  weekly  than  when  on  alfalfa  only.  Sim- 
ilar amounts  of  green  alfalfa  were  fed  to  the  cows  in  both  lots  through- 
out the  experiment,  viz.,  30  pounds  per  head  daily. 

WEIGHT  OF  COWS 

The  cows  on  the  experiment  were  weighed  for  three  consecutive 
days  at  the  beginning  and  end  of  the  experiment,  and  also  on  going 
from  Period  I  to  Period  II,  and  from  Period  II  to  Period  III.  Taking 
the  averages  of  the  weights  for  the  two  lots  obtained  at  the  beginning 
and  the  end  of  each  period,  we  arrive  at  the  following  figures  for  the 
weights  of  the  cows  during  the  alfalfa  and  the  alfalfa  and  barley 
periods. 

Average  Weights  of  Cows 

Lot  A  Lot  B 

1059  lbs.  (barley  and  alfalfa)  1093  lbs.  (alfalfa  only) 

1070  lbs.  (altalfa  only)  1117  lbs.  (barley  and  alfalfa) 

1094  lbs.  (barley  and  alfalfa)  1133  lbs.  (alfalfa  only) 

An  increase  in  the  weight  of  the  cows  will  be  noted  with  the 
progress  of  the  experiment.  In  the  case  of  Lot  A,  where  a  change  was 
made  from  barley  and  alfalfa  to  alfalfa,  a  gain  of  11  pounds  was 
found,  while  on  changing  from  alfalfa  alone  to  alfalfa  and  barley  the 
cows  gained  an  average  of  24  pounds  per  head.  A  net  gain  of  13 
pounds  per  head  was,  therefore,  obtained  on  the  average  for  Lot  A 
as  a  result  of  feeding  barley  in  addition  to  alfalfa. 


432  UNIVERSITY   OF   CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT  STATION 

An  examination  of  the  results  by  Lot  B  will  show  that  there  was 
an  average  gain  of  24  pounds  in  going  from  alfalfa  to  alfalfa  and 
barley,  while  a  gain  of  16  pounds  is  noted  in  going  on  to  the  alfalfa 
ration,  leaving  an  average  difference  of  8  pounds  in  this  case.  There 
was,  therefore,  a  net  gain  of  10.5  pounds  incident  to  the  feeding  of 
barley  supplementary  to  green  alfalfa  and  alfalfa  hay. 

RELATIVE  ECONOMY  OF  RATIONS 

In  order  to  ascertain  whether  a  commensurate  increase  in  produc- 
tion was  secured  as  a  result  of  the  feeding  of  barley,  average  prices 
for  the  products  and  feeds  are  assumed  as  follows: 

Barley  $24  a  ton 

Alfalfa  hay  $8  a  ton 

Milk  16  cents  per  gal. 

Butter  fat  33V3  cents  per  lb. 

Skim  milk  (80  per  cent  of  whole  milk)  25  cents  per  cwt. 

Increase  in  body  weight  5  cents  per  lb. 

The  calculations  as  to  the  economy  of  the  feeding  of  barley  will 
be  based  on  the  data  for  the  entire  period  during  which  the  system 
of  feeding  was  followed,  instead  of  on  the  weekly  averages,  and  the 
returns  determined  on  the  assumption  that  (a)  the  milk  is  sold  at 
16  cents  a  gallon,  and  (6)  butter  fat  is  sold  at  S3y3  cents  a  pound. 

(a)  On  basis  of  milk  sold  at  16  cents  a  gallon. — The  total  increase 
in  milk  production  due  to  the  feeding  of  barley  was  1609.1  pounds,  or 
187  gallons ;  hence  we  would  have  if  we  were  selling  whole  milk  at 
16  cents  per  gallon : 

187  x  .16  $29.92 

731/2  x  .05,  increase  in  body  weight  3.67 

Total  gain  by  feeding  barley  $33.59 

The  total  amount  of  barley  fed  on  the  experiment  amounted  to 
2649  pounds.  At  $24  a  ton  (1.2  cents  per  pound)  the  cost  of  this 
amount  of  barley  was : 

2649  x. 012  $31.79 

Since  the  cows  ate  less  alfalfa  hay  when  fed  barley,  we  should 

deduct  from  this  amount  the  value  of  the  saving  in  alfalfa  hay : 

9656-8911    745 

745  x  .004  $2.98 

$31.79-$2.98    $28.81 


BULLETIN  256         VALUE  OF  BARLEY  FOR  COWS  FED  ALFALFA  433 

This  represents  the  net  increase  in  the  cost  of  the  rations,  incurred 
by  feeding  barley.  Comparing  this  figure  with  the  increased  value  of 
the  production,  $33.59,  we  note  that  a  profit  of  $4.78  was  secured  as 
a  result  of  adding  barley  to  the  alfalfa  ration  on  this  experiment,  on 
the  basis  of  selling  milk  at  16  cents  per  gallon  and  including  the  value 
of  the  gain  in  weight  by  the  cows  at  5  cents  per  pound. 

(b)  On  basis  of  butter  fat  sold  at  33X/?J  cents  per  pound. — If  we 
were  selling  butter  fat  at  33%  cents  per  pound,  the  increase  in  receipts 
would  be  as  follows : 

Value  of  butter  fat,  48.90  x. 33%  $16.30 

Body  weight,  73%  x  .05  3.67 

Skim  milk,  1 2.87  x. 25  3.22 

Total  increase  in  value  of  the  production  $23.19 


Comparing  this  figure  with  $28.81  (the  increased  cost  of  the  barley 
ration),  a  loss  of  $5.62  for  the  cows  during  the  actual  feeding  of  barley 
is  obtained. 

Whether  this  is  the  final  criterion  as  to  the  economy  of  the  system 
of  feeding  grain  to  cows  on  alfalfa,  or  whether  there  are  other  factors 
that  should  be  considered  in  this  connection,  like  the  effect  of  the  grain 
feeding  on  the  milk  flow  beyond  the  period  when  the  barley  was 
actually  fed,  and  the  influence  of  an  increase  in  body  weight  on  the 
milk  secretion  of  cows,  will  be  discussed  after  the  results  for  the  second 
year's  trial  have  been  presented. 


II.  EXPERIMENT  CONDUCTED  DURING  THE  SUMMER  OF  1914 

The  experiment  on  feeding  grain  to  cows  on  alfalfa  conducted  last 
summer  was  somewhat  similar  to  the  one  just  reported  as  regards  plan 
and  conduct.  It  differed  from  this  mainly  in  the  larger  number  of 
cows  placed  on  the  experiment  and  in  the  length  and  the  arrangement 
of  the  feeding  periods.  Eighteen  cows  were  included  in  the  experi- 
ment, which  were  separated  into  two  lots  of  nine  each ;  these  were  as 
even  as  possible  as  regards  breed  of  cows,  average  body  weight,  age, 
distance  from  calving  and  time  when  due,  production  of  milk,  solids 
and  butter  fat,  etc.  The  following  statement  gives  data  relating  to 
these  points  for  the  cows  on  the  experiment  during  the  week  of  July 
2-9,  1914. 


434 


UNIVERSITY  OF   CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT  STATION 


Lot  A 


Breed 

wt. 

Age, 
yrs. 

In  milk, 
mo. 

Due  to 

calve, 

mo. 

Milk, 
lbs. 

Butter  fat 

A 

Solids 

Name 

lbs. 

per  cent 

lbs. 

Peggy 

Gr.  H. 

982 

6 

2 

(14)* 

273.7 

9.04 

3.3 

33.1 

Boyal  Rival 's 
Queen 

G. 

1135 

sy2 

10 

132.4 

6.22 

4.7. 

18.8 

Eoanee 

Gr.  Sh. 

930 

4 

4 

5 

151.4 

5.00 

3.3 

18.2 

Woodland 

Gr.  H. 

1188 

1 





118.6 

6.75 

5.7 

17.5 

Queen 

H. 

1428 

7V> 

9 

4 

167.5 

5.03 

3.0 

18.9 

Bess  Lass 

H. 

1045 

4 

1 

(13)* 

127.8 

4.11 

3.2 

15.1 

Cherry 

Gr.  Sh. 

1225 

6 

7 

6 

]  54.1 

5.24 

3.4 

18.5 

Colantha 

H. 

910 

2 

9 

6 

99.7 

3.09 

3.1 

12.0 

Bessie 

Gr.  Sh. 

1050 

6 
5%  ( 

6 
8)    6(8) 

(6)* 

189.4 
0  157.2 

6.63 

5.68 

3.5 

3.61 

22.5 

Averages, 

1099 

7.7  0 

19.3 

Lot  B 

Breed 

Wt. 

Age, 
yrs. 

In  milk, 
mo. 

Due  to 

calve, 

mo. 

Milk, 
lbs. 

Butter  fat 

Solids 

Name 

lbs. 

> 
per  cent 

lbs. 

Golden  Fern 
Mermaiden 

J. 

960 

7% 

3 

(10)* 

90.9 

5.00 

5.5 

13.4 

Blackie 

Gr.  H. 

1185 

6 

6 

5 

91.8 

4.04 

4.4 

12.2 

Helen 

Gr.  H. 

1335 

6 

3 

8 

232.3 

7.20 

3.1 

27.7 

Rosie 

Gr.  Sh. 

1165 

6 

4 

(8)* 

158.4 

6.02 

3.8 

19.0 

Bess  II 

H. 

1200 

3Vo 

2 

(12)* 

213.8 

8.34 

3.9 

27.4 

Molly 

Gr.  Sh. 

1110 

6 

2 

(6)* 

135.4 

5.42 

4.0 

17.1 

Lulu 

J. 

1150 

10 

7 

161.9 

6.80 

4.2 

21.4 

Whittie 

Gr.  H. 

1010 

6 

2 



187.6 

6.19 

3.3 

22.3 

La  Polka 

H. 

1320 
1159 

5 
6 

5 

4 

8 

131.0 
' )  155.9 

4.32 

3.3 

3.80 

15.6 

Averages, 

8.1  0 

5.93 

19.6 

Not  bred  at  beginning  of  experiment. 


Each  lot  included  5  Holstein  (grades  or  pure  breds)  and  the  other 
breeds  were  represented  as  follows:  Lot  1,  3  Shorthorns,  1  Guernsey; 
and  Lot  II,  2  Shorthorns  and  2  Jerseys. 

The  experiment  was  separated  into  two  periods  of  four  weeks' 
duration  each,  during  which  the  cows  in  the  two  lots  were  fed  as 
follows : 


Period  I  (July  23-August  20,  1914) : 
Lot  A — Alfalfa  only. 
Lot  B — Alfalfa  and  barley. 

Period  II  (August  27-September  24,  1914) 
Lot  A — Alfalfa  and  barley. 
Lot  B — Alfalfa  only. 


BULLETIN  256  VALUE  OF  BARLEY  FOR  COWS  FED  ALFALFA 


435 


Hannah — grade  Holstein 


Whittie — grade  Holstein 


« 
436  UNIVERSITY  OF   CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT   STATION 

Each  period  was  preceded  by  a  week's  preliminary  feeding  in  order 
to  accustom  the  cows  to  the  system  of  feeding  to  be  followed  during 
the  subsequent  four  weeks.  All  feed  eaten  by  the  cows  was  weighed, 
and  the  milk  produced  by  them  was  weighed,  sampled,  and  tested  in 
a  similar  manner  as  in  the  first  experiment.  In  addition  feed  samples 
were  taken  several  times  during  the  progress  of  the  experiment  and 
forwarded  to  Professor  M.  E.  Jaffa,  Chief  of  the  Nutrition  Labora- 
tories,* Berkeley,  California,  for  chemical  analysis.  The  following  table 
shows  the  results  of  the  analyses  of  the  samples  of  feeding  stuffs : 

Chemical  Analyses  of  Feeding  Stuffs,  in  Per  Cent 


Lab.  No. 

Feeding  stuff 

Moisture 

Protein 

Fat 

Fiber 

N-free 
extract 

Ash 

1268 

Green  alfalfa 

74.33 

5.10 

.42 

5.55 

12.06 

2.54 

1188 

Alfalfa  hay 

23.00 

17.50 

2.70 

19.55 

29.25 

8.00 

1208 

Alfalfa  hay 

12.00 

14.49 

.91 

30.86 

33.84 

7.90 

1215 

Alfalfa  hay 

15.87 

11.32 

1.30 

28.63 

35.85 

7.03 

1218 

Alfalfa  hay 
Average, 

9.95 

16.28 

1.88 

30.68 

33.44 

7.77 

15.20 

14.90 

1.70 

27.43 

33.09 

7.68 

1185 

Barley 

8.00 

13.50 

2.20 

7.48 

65.47 

3.35 

1211 

Barley 

11.89 

9.81 

1.31 

6.18 

67.55 

3.26 

1217 

Barley 

Average, 

12.36 

10.37 

1.80 

6.26 

66.61 

2.60 

10.75 

11.23 

1.77 

6.64 

66.54 

3.07 

The  quality  of  the  green  alfalfa  and  the  alfalfa  hay  fed  during 
the  experiment  varied  considerably,  especially  that  of  the  hay,  which 
was  mostly  of  medium  to  poor  grade.  The  green  alfalfa  and  most  of 
the  alfalfa  hay  was  fed  in  feeding  racks  in  the  corrals,  and  there  was 
an  unavoidable,  though  fairly  constant,  waste  of  feed  in  both  cases. 
During  the  first  week  of  the  experiment  the  cows  did  not  receive  any 
ha}^,  but  as  they  commenced  to  scour  they  were  fed  some  hay  during 
the  second  week  and  the  amount  of  hay  fed  was  gradually  increased 
as  the  experiment  progressed.  The  following  table  shows  the  results 
obtained  on  the  experiment  during  the  periods  when  alfalfa  only  or 
alfalfa  and  barley  were  fed,  so  far  as  the  production  of  milk,  solids, 
and  butter  fat,  and  the  body  weights  of  the  cows  are  concerned.  The 
amounts  of  feed  eaten  per  day  and  each  week  of  the  experiment  are 
also  given  in  the  table : 


Bulletin  256 


VALUE  OF  BARLEY  FOR  COWS  FED  ALFALFA 


437 


Feed  Consumption  and  Production  Per  Cow  Per  Week 

Lot  A — Period  I 


Green 
alfalfa 

Alfalfa 
hay 

Barley 

Milk, 
lbs. 

Solids, 
lbs. 

Butter  fat 

A 

Average 

body  wt., 

lbs. 

Week 

t 
per  cent 

lbs. 

1 

532 

42.8 

150.2 

18.9 

3.63 

5.45 

1108 

2 

531 

34 

39.0 

155.9 

19.9 

3.76 

5.87 

1116 

3 

376 

74 

39.8 

152.1 

19.1 

3.68 

5.59 

1124 

4 

364 

,  451 

93 

50 

38.8 

141.7 

18.3 
19.1 

3.72 
3.70 

5.27 

1114 

Average, 

40.1 

150.0 

5.55 

1116 

Lot  B — Period  II 

Alfalfa 
hay 

Barley 

Milk,          Solids, 
lbs.             lbs. 

Butter  fat 

A 

Average 

body  wt., 

lbs. 

Week     alfalfa 

r 

per  cent 

lbs. 

1         419 

140 

39.7 

127.2         16.2 

3.66 

4.66 

1185 

2         567 

152 

39.6 

120.9         15.3 

3.94 

4.61 

1208 

3         406 

182 

29.7 

117.2         15.6 

3.95 

4.63 

1213 

4         321 

88 
141 

42.8 

113.6         15.1 

4.12 

4.52 
4.61 

1217 

Average,  428 

40.5 

119.7         15.6 

3.85 

1206 

.both  lots,  440 

95 

40.3 

134.9         17.3 

3.78 

5.08 

1161 

Lot  A — Period  II 


Green 
alfalfa 

585 

Alfalfa                          Milk, 
hay         Barley           lbs. 

118            116.3 

Solids, 
lbs. 

15.1 

Butter  fat 

A 

Average 

bodv  wt. 

lbs. 

1109 

Week 
1 

r 
per  cent 

3.77 

lbs. 
4.39 

2 

663 

120 

108.1 

13.0 

3.77 

3.84 

1137 

3 

346 

221 

93.0 

12.4 

3.95 

3.67 

1139 

4 

334 

482 

147 

81.8 

10.8 
12.8 

4.07 

3.26 

1143 

Average, 

152 

99.8 

3.80 

3.79 

1132 

Lot  B — Period  I 


Alfalfa 
hay 

Barley 

Milk, 
lbs. 

Solids, 
lbs. 

Butter 

A 

fat 

Average 

bodv  wt., 

lbs. 

Week     alfalfa 

f 

per  cent 

lbs. 

1          652 

142.2 

17.7 

3.92 

5.58 

1169 

2         657 

34 

142.2 

18.1 

3.78 

5.39 

1181 

3         449 

88 

139.5 

17.5 

3.65 

5.07 

1177 

4         501 

59 

45 

129.5 

16.4 
17.4 

3.61 

4.67 

1170 

Average,  565 

138.4 

3.74 

5.18 

1174 

Lv.  both  lots,  523 

98 

119.1 

15.1 

3.76 

4.48 

1153 

Difference,  — 83 

—3 

40.3 

15.8 

2.2 

.02 

.60 

8 

In  per  cent,  

13 

15 

13 

438  UNIVERSITY   OF   CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT   STATION 

The  data  presented  in  the  table  show  that  the  cows  ate  the  follow- 
ing amounts  of  feed  per  week  during  the  alfalfa  and  barley  periods : 
440  pounds  of  green  alfalfa,  95  pounds  of  alfalfa  hay,  and  40.3  pounds 
of  barley:  and  produced  on  these  rations  134.9  pounds  of  milk,  con- 
taining 17.3  pounds  of  solids  and  5.08  pounds  butter  fat  (average  fat 
content,  3.78  per  cent).  On  the  exclusive  alfalfa  rations,  on  the  other 
hand,  they  ate  523  pounds  of  green  alfalfa  and  98  pounds  of  alfalfa 
hay,  and  produced  on  the  average  for  both  periods  119.1  pounds  of 
milk,  containing  15.1  pounds  of  solids  and  4.48  pounds  fat  (average 
fat  content,  3.76  per  cent).  There  was,  therefore,  an  increase  of  13 
per  cent  in  the  production  of  milk  and  butter  fat  incident  to  the  feed- 
ing of  barley,  a  figure  that  agrees  closely  with  that  obtained  in  the 
1913  experiment. 


BODY  WEIGHTS  OF  COWS 

As  shown  by  the  figures  in  the  preceding  table,  the  average  body 
weights  of  the  cows  for  the  two  systems  of  feeding  were :  on  alfalfa 
only,  1153  pounds;  on  alfalfa  and  barley,  1161  pounds,  a  gain  of  8 
pounds.  It  will  be  noted  that  the  cows  gained  in  weight  throughout 
the  experiment,  but  larger  gains  were  made  during  the  barley  periods 
than  when  rough  feed  only  was  fed.  Comparing  the  weights  of  all 
the  cows  at  the  beginning  and  the  end  of  the  two  periods,  we  find  that 
13  of  the  cows  gained  in  weight  when  fed  alfalfa  and  barley,  and  9 
gained  in  weight  when  on  alfalfa  only;  the  average  gains  being  13 
pounds  per  head  in  favor  of  the  grain  periods.  This  result  again 
agrees  closely  with  that  of  the  preceding  year  as  regards  the  influence 
of  the  barley  feeding  on  the  body  weights  of  the  cows. 


DAILY  RATIONS  EATEN  BY  COWS 

While  on  alfalfa  and  barley  the  cows  ate,  on  the  average,  an 
equivalent  of  63  pounds  of  green  alfalfa,  13.6  pounds  of  alfalfa  hay, 
and  5.8  pounds  of  ground  barley  per  head  daily,  and  on  alfalfa  only, 
75  pounds  of  green  alfalfa  and  14  pounds  of  alfalfa  hay.  On  the 
former  ration  they  produced,  on  the  average,  19.3  pounds  of  milk  and 
.73  pound  butter  fat  per  day,  and  on  the  latter  17  pounds  milk  and 
.64  pound  of  butter  fat.  Assuming  that  average  digestion  coefficients 
for  the  various  feeding  stuffs  may  be  applied  to  the  particular  feeds 
used  in  this  experiment,  the  amounts  of  digestible  components  sup- 
plied in  the  rations  are  found  as  given  below. 


Bulletin  256       value  of  barley  for  cows  fed  alfalfa  4:3!) 

Composition  of  Average  Rations  Fed  to  Cows,  in  Pounds 

Digestible 


N 

Dry  Carboh\  drates    Nutritive 

matter  Protein         and  fat  ratio 


Alfalfa  and  barley  32.8  4.4  16.4  1 :3.7 

Alfalfa  only 31.2  4.4  14.1  1 :3.2 

It  appears  from  these  figures  that  the  cows  received  somewhat  more 
nutriment  in  their  feed  during  the  alfalfa  and  barley  periods  than 
when  on  alfalfa  alone.  The  average  amount  of  dry  matter  supplied 
in  the  rations  is  considerably  higher  than  that  called  for  by  the 
accepted  feeding  standards,  and  the  amount  of  digestible  protein  is 
at  least  twice  that  which  cows  producing  toward  a  pound  of  butter  fat 
per  day  will  require,  according  to  these  standards.  The  explanation 
of  these  apparent  discrepancies  is  to  be  sought  partially  in  the  fact 
that  the  cows  did  not  eat  all  the  green  alfalfa  and  alfalfa  hay  weighed 
out  to  them.  There  was,  as  previously  stated,  more  or  less  coarse  feed 
wasted  throughout  the  experiment  and  a  somewhat  larger  proportion 
of  waste  took  place  during  the  latter  part  of  the  experiment  than 
during  the  first  periods,  owing  to  the  coarse  character  of  the  green 
feed  and  hay  fed  at  this  time.  Unfortunately,  the  arrangement  of 
corral  feeding  does  not  permit  of  a  satisfactory  determination  of  the 
amounts  of  feed  wasted.  In  the  efforts  of  the  cows  to  get  hold  of  the 
best  parts  of  the  feed  some  is  pulled  out  of  the  feeding  racks  and 
trampled  on.  This  is  especially  the  case  when  only  a  fair  or  poor 
quality  of  alfalfa  is  fed ;  the  part  lost  in  feeding  is,  naturally,  the  least 
valuable  of  the  plant,  hence  the  amount  of  valuable  digestible  feed 
components,  and  especially  protein,  actually  consumed  by  the  cows  is 
proportionately  lower  than  the  total  dry  matter  eaten. 

It  is  evident,  therefore,  that  the  amount  of  digestible  protein  in 
the  rations  shown  in  the  preceding  table  is  too  high  and  that  the 
nutritive  ratios  given  are  narrower  than  those  of  the  rations  actually 
eaten.  Since  the  nutritive  ratio  of  either  green  alfalfa  or  alfalfa  hay 
is  likely  to  be  narrower  than  1 :4,  and  since  the  bulk  of  the  nutrients 
in  the  alfalfa  and  barley  rations  (over  80  per  cent)  was  furnished  by 
the  alfalfa,  it  follows  that  the  cows  fed  either  alfalfa  alone  or  alfalfa 
and  barley  will  receive  an  abnormally  large  proportion  of  protein 
substances  and  a  considerably  narrower  nutritive  ratio  than  suggested 
by  approved  principles  of  animal  nutrition  as  embodied  in  the  accepted 
feeding  standards. 

Whether  this  is  of  sufficient  importance  from  a  physiological  point 
of  view  to  more  than  counterbalance  the  relative  economy  of  this 
svstem  of  feeding  under  the  conditions  prevailing  in  this  and  other 


440  UNIVERSITY  OF   CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT  STATION 

western  states  is  a  question  that  cannot  be  definitely  answered  with 
our  present  knowledge.  Some  further  light  may  be  thrown  thereon 
later  in  the  discussion  of  the  general  problems  considered  in  this 
bulletin. 

TOTAL  PRODUCTION  AND  FEED  CONSUMPTION 

Considering  the  total  production  and  feed  consumption  for  the 
periods  when  alfalfa  only  and  when  alfalfa  and  barley  were  fed,  we 
find  that  the  cows  produced  on  this  experiment  the  amounts  of  milk 
and  butter  fat  and  consumed  the  feed  given  below. 

Summary  of  Feed  Eaten  and  Production  of  Milk  and  Butter  Fat,  in  Pounds 

Butter  fat 

Green         Alfalfa  f A ^ 

Rations  fed  alfalfa  hav  Barlev  Milk        per  cent        lbs. 

Alfalfa  and  barley  31,680       6840       2901.6       9712.8       3.78       365.76 

Alfalfa  only  37,656       7056        8575.2       3.76       322.56 

Difference    5,976         216       2901.6      ,1137.6         .02         43.20 

Increase  in  production,  in  per  cent  13  13 

ECONOMICS  OF  BARLEY  FEEDING 

At  the  prices  for  feeds  and  products,  previously  given,  the  eco- 
nomics of  feeding  barley  to  the  cows  on  this  experiment  may  be  stated 
as  follows : 

Cost  of  feed: 

2901.6  lbs.  barley  @  $1.20  per  cwt $34.82 

216  lbs.  alfalfa  hay  @  $8  per  ton  86 

5976  lbs.  green  alfalfa  @  $2  per  ton  $5.98 

6.84 

Returns  in  production:  $27.98 

1137.6  lbs.  (131  gals.)  milk  @  16  cents  per  gallon  ..  $20.96 
72  lbs.  gain  in  weight  @  5  cents  3.60 

$24.56 

43.2  lbs.  butter  fat  @  33y3  cents  $14.38 

910.1  lbs.  skim  milk  @  25  cents  per  cwt 2.28 

72  lbs.  gain  in  weight  @  5  cents  3.60 

$20.26 

The  increase  in  the  value  of  the  products  obtained  as  a  result  of 
feeding  barley  to  the  cows  during  certain  periods  was  not  sufficient 
to  pay  for  the  grain  fed  in  last  year's  experiment,  whether  the  calcu- 
lations be  based  on  whole  milk  at  16  cents  per  gallon  or  butter  fat  at 
33%  cents  per  pound,  the  value  of  the  grain  in  body  weight  figured 
at  beef  prices  being  included  in  both  cases.     It  would  not,  however, 


BULLETIN  256  VALUE  OF  BARLEY  FOR  COWS  FED  ALFALFA 


441 


Queen — Holstein 


Lulu — Jersey 


442  UNIVERSITY  OF   CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT   STATION 

be  safe  to  conclude  from  this  result  that  the  feeding  of  grain  to  cows 
on  alfalfa  does  not  pay,  for  there  are  at  least  two  points  that  should 
be  considered  in  this  connection :  one  is  the  effect  of  grain  feeding  on 
the  production  of  the  cows  during  the  balance  of  the  lactation  period 
after  the  more  liberal  system  of  feeding  has  been  discontinued,  and 
second,  the  effect  of  a  good  body  condition  of  the  cows  on  their  off- 
spring and  on  their  production  during'  the  following  lactation  period. 

RESIDUAL  EFFECT  OF  GRAIN  FEEDING 

As  to  the  first  point,  it  is  definitely  known  that  a  change  in  the 
method  of  feeding  will  continue  to  influence  the  milk  secretion  during 
the  remainder  of  the  lactation  period ;  when  the  production  of  a  cow 
has  been  stimulated  by  high  feeding  for  a  time,  she  will  continue  at 
a  higher  level  of  production  throughout  the  balance  of  the  lactation 
period  than  would  have  been  the  case  if  she  had  not  been  thus  fed, 
and  the  lactation  period  may  also  be  extended  beyond  the  time  when 
the  cow  would  otherwise  have  gone  dry.  Hence,  credit  should  be  given 
for  the  residual  or  continued  effect  of  a  certain  system  of  feeding- 
practiced  before  deciding  whether  or  not  adequate  returns  are  ob- 
tained as  a  result  of  this  system  of  feeding.  This  residual  effect  can- 
not be  directly  determined  with  any  degree  of  definiteness ;  it  will 
vary  with  the  kind  and  condition  of  the  cows  and  the  method  of  feed- 
ing practiced,  as  to  the  character  of  the  feeds  and  the  intensity  of  the 
system  of  feeding. 

Another  point  to  be  considered  in  connection  with  the  question  of 
the  economy  of  grain  feeding  to  cows  on  alfalfa  is  the  influence  of 
the  body  condition  of  cows  on  their  milk  secretion.  We  have  seen 
that  in  both  experiments  the  feeding  of  barley  caused  the  cows  to  gain 
more  in  body  weight  than  when  fed  alfalfa  only.  With  good  dairy 
cows  there  is  always  a  clanger  of  their  losing  weight  when  in  full  flow 
of  milk.  Cows  with  a  great  capacity  for  dairy  production  are  espec- 
ially likely  to  "milk  their  flesh  off'  during  the  early  part  of  the 
lactation  period.  An  extra  supply  of  nutrients  stored  in  their  body 
at  the  time  of  freshening  will  be  available  for  milk  production  as 
needed  and  will  enable  the  cows  to  maintain  their  milk  production 
better  than  would  otherwise  be  the  case.  A  good  body  condition  in 
a  dairy  cow  is  also  advantageous  for  another  reason :  when  cows  come 
in  "in  thin  flesh,"  the  per  cent  of  fat  of  the  milk  will,  as  a  rule,  be 
below  normal,  and  this  low  fat  content  will  continue  throughout  the 
lactation  period.  In  extreme  cases  the  average  fat  content  in  the 
milk  for  the  lactation  period  may  be  nearly  1  per  cent  below  that  of 
normal  lactation  periods  when  the  cow  freshens  in  good  body  flesh. 


Bulletin  256        value  of  barley  for  cows  fed  alfalfa  443 

Cows  in  good  body  condition  at  the  time  of  freshening  are  also  more 
likely  to  give  birth  to  strong,  thrifty  calves  than  cows  in  a  poor 
condition.2 

There  is  reason  to  believe,  therefore,  that  the  increase  in  the 
body  weight  which  came  as  the  result  of  feeding  barley  to  the  cows 
on  both  experiments  described  in  the  preceding  has  an  important 
bearing  on  the  usefulness  of  the  cows  in  the  dairy,  and  that  it  would 
tend  both  to  increase  the  flow  of  milk  during  the  following  lactation 
period  and  cause  the  cows  to  produce  milk  of  the  highest  fat  content 
of  which  they  are  capable.  As  in  the  case  of  the  residual  influence 
of  grain  feeding,  the  evidence  at  hand  is  not  sufficient  to  give  a  definite 
figure  for  the  improvement  wrought  in  either  case,  but  it  may  be  safely 
assumed  that  both  factors  are  more  or  less  important  in  the  manage- 
ment of  dairy  herds,  and  that  the  influence  of  the  grain  feeding  to 
cows  on  alfalfa  does  not  cease  when  this  is  discontinued.  The  economy 
of  this  system  of  feeding  cannot  therefore  be  determined  by  comparing 
the  value  of  the  increase  in  production  during  the  actual  period  of 
grain  feeding  with  the  cost  of  the  amount  of  grain  consumed. 

INFLUENCE  OF  FEEDING  GRAIN  TO  COWS  ON  PASTURE 

The  statement  just  made  is  fully  borne  out  by  the  results  of  investi- 
gations conducted  by  the  Cornell3  (New  York)  and  Mississippi4  Ex- 
periment Stations.  In  an  experiment  at  the  former  station  a  lot  of 
8  cows  that  were  fed  grain  while  at  pasture  gave  about  27  per  cent 
more  milk  and  gained  53  pounds  in  live 'weight  per  cow  more  than 
another  similar  lot  of  cows  that  received  no  grain.  During  six  months 
beginning  with  April  of  the  season  following  that  during  which  grain 
was  given,  when  all  cows  were  fed  alike,  the  lot  which  had  received 
grain  produced  16  per  cent  more  milk  than  did  the  lot  receiving  no 
grain.  The  question  of  the  economy  of  feeding  grain  to  cows  on  pas- 
ture is,  in  fact,  closely  related  to  that  considered  in  this  bulletin.  In 
both  systems  succulent  feeds  are  given,  and  young  pasture  grass  re- 
sembles green  alfalfa,  both  in  the  amount  of  nutrients  that  it  contains 
and  in  the  relation  of  the  two  classes  of  nutrients,  protein  and  starchy 
components,  which  it  furnishes.  The  former  is  shown  by  the  amounts 
of  digestible  matter  present  in  the  two  feeds,  viz.,  16.6  per  cent  in 
green  alfalfa  and  13.7  per  cent  in  pasture  grass,  and  the  latter  by  the 
nutritive  ratios  of  the  two  feeds,  which  are  approximately  1 :3.6  for 


2  Wis.  Exp.  Station,  19th  Rept.,  p.  117;  Mo.  Exp.  Station,  Bull.  100;  Cornell 
(N.  Y.)  Exp.  Station,  Bull.  323,  p.  121. 

3  Bulletin  49. 

4  Bulletin  70. 


444  UNIVERSITY  OF   CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT   STATION 

green  alfalfa  and  1 :4.5  for  pasture  grass.  Similar,  although  less  pro- 
nounced results,  may  be  expected  in  feeding  grain  to  cows  on  green 
alfalfa  and  alfalfa  hay,  as  have  been  observed  in  the  case  of  cows  at 
pasture.  A  number  of  experiments  along  the  latter  line  have  been 
conducted  by  eastern  and  central  experiment  stations.5  The  general 
conclusion  to  which  these  have  led  is,  briefly  stated,  that  in  the  case 
of  scant  pasture  the  direct  increase  in  milk  flow  secured  will  compen- 
sate for  the  cost  of  the  grain  fed,  while  with  abundant  pasturage  the 
immediate  increase  in  production  is  not  sufficient  to  pay  for  the  grain. 
In  either  case,  however,  a  residual  effect  of  the  grain  feeding  is  notice- 
able, which  is  likely  to  make  the  feeding  of  grain  a  paying  proposition. 

PHYSIOLOGICAL  EFFECTS  OF  FEEDING  ALFALFA  EXCLUSIVELY 

As  previously  suggested,  it  is  a  question  whether  long  continued 
feeding  of  heavy  protein  rations,  such  as  used  in  these  experiments, 
would  not  have  specific  physiological  effects  on  the  health  and  pro- 
duction of  the  cows,  as  well  as  on  the  development  of  young  milk- 
producing  animals.  The  nutritive  ratios  of  either  the  alfalfa  or  the 
alfalfa  and  barley  rations  fed  were  very  narrow,  at  any  rate  below 
1 :4;  allowing  for  the  coarse  hay  or  green  feed  wasted.  Since  a 
nutritive  ratio  of  about  1:5.4  has  been  found  physiologically  best 
suited  for  milch  cows,  even  in  the  case  of  large  producers,  it  would 
seem  possible  that  rations  considerably  narrower  than  this  cannot  be 
fed  for  long  periods  without  some  deleterious  influence  on  the  health 
or  the  production  of  the  animals. 

While  the  protein  substances  have,  in  general,  been  found  to  have 
a  stimulating  influence  on  the  milk  secretion,  an  excessive  supply  is 
likely  to  cause  abnormal  conditions  which  will  work  against  an  eco- 
nomical production  and  the  continued  usefulness  of  the  cows  in  the 
herd.  In  the  digestion  of  the  feed  eaten  by  animals  the  protein  sub- 
stances are  broken  down  into  compounds  of  simpler  structure  and 
one  of  the  final  waste  products,  urea,  is  secreted  in  the  urine  through 
the  kidneys.  Heavy  feeding  of  protein  feeds,  like  alfalfa,  therefore, 
throws  a  large  amount  of  labor  on  the  kidneys,  and  diseased  conditions 
readily  result  in  the  feeding  of  animals,  as  well  as  in  man.  There  is 
but  little  definite  information  available  in  case  of  dairy  cows  with 
regard  to  this  point.  It  appears  to  be  a  common  opinion  among  dairy 
farmers,  however,  that  digestive  disorders  and  failure  to  breed6  are 

5  Cornell,  bulletins  13,  22,  36,  and  49;  North  Dakota,  bulletin  16;  Kansas 
Station  Report,  1888;  West  Virginia,  bulletin  109;  Mississippi,  bulletin  70  and 
Report  13;  Utah,  bulletin  68;  Hoard's  Dairyman,  1896,  p.  924. 

e  The  Division  of  Veterinary  Science  of  this  Station  has  recently  conducted 
an  investigation,  soon  to  be  published,  which  indicates  that  heavy  feeding  of 
alfalfa  is  not  a  cause  of  sterility  in  cows,  as  has  sometimes  been  claimed. 


BULLETIN  256  VALUE  OF  BARLEY  FOR  COWS  FED  ALFALFA  445 

more  frequently  met  with  in  herds  where  exclusive  alfalfa  feeding  is 
practiced  than  where  a  mixed  system  of  feeding  is  followed7  It  has 
been  found  in  experiments  conducted  at  the  Wisconsin  Experiment 
Station8  that  alfalfa  possesses  a  specific  diuretic  effect  and  that  a 
shrinkage  in  milk  production  followed  a  change  from  a  ration  com- 
posed of  cornstalks,  cornmeal,  and  gluten  feed  to  an  alfalfa-corn  ration. 

Experiments  with  a  number  of  heifers  and  young  dairy  cows  have 
been  in  progress  at  the  University  Farm  since  April,  1914,  in  which 
alfalfa  is  being  fed  as  the  sole  feed  for  long  continued  periods;  it  is 
expected  that  these  will  furnish  much  valuable  information  as  to  the 
specific  influence  of  alfalfa  on  the  development  of  young  dairy  animals 
and  on  the  metabolic  processes  concerned  in  milk  production. 

Whether  one  is  disposed  to  place  much  emphasis  on  these  experi- 
ments and  findings  or  not,  it  is  a  fact  that  many  leading  dairy  farmers 
in  the  state  have  abandoned  the  system  of  exclusive  alfalfa  feeding, 
except  when  good  green  alfalfa  is  available,  and  are  supplementing 
the  alfalfa  with  carbonaceous  feeds,  like  corn  or  sorghum  silage,  barley 
or  other  concentrates,  in  feeding  their  cows.9  This  practice  is  appar- 
ently increasing.  Farmers  who  are  anxious  to  receive  the  best  possible 
returns  from  their  herds  are  now  quite  generally  feeding  their  cows 
rations  containing  less  protein  and  more  starchy  components  than  are 
contained  in  straight  alfalfa,  and  find  that  it  pays  them  to  do  so, 
especially  in  the  case  of  their  best  cows. 

CONCLUSION 

The  results  of  the  two  experiments  with  feeding  barley  to  cows  on 
alfalfa  reported  in  this  bulletin  show  that  an  immediate  increase  in 
production  will  be  secured  as  a  result  of  the  grain  feeding,  but  that 
this  increase  will  not,  as  a  rule,  pay  for  the  extra  cost  of  the  ration. 
On  account  of  the  increased  production  obtained  and  the  residual 
effect  of  the  grain  feeding,  as  well  as  its  favorable  influence  on  the 
condition  of  the'  cows  and  their  offspring,  it  may  be  concluded,  how- 
ever, that  the  practice  of  feeding  grain  to  cows  on  alfalfa  is  economi- 
cally sound  and  may  be  recommended.  This  holds  true,  especially, 
for  heifers  and  young  cows,  as  well  as  for  heavy-producing  animals 
which  cannot  be  brought  to  a  maximum  production  on  roughage  only, 
even  if  this  be  as  excellent  and  palatable  a  feed  as  green  alfalfa  or 
good  alfalfa  hay. 

7  Pacific  Rural  Press,  Sept.  19,  1914,  "Silage  and  Alfalfa  Faults";  Kimball's 
Dairy  Farmer,  Dec.  15,  1914,  and  Feb.  1,  1915,  "A  Question  of  Breeding." 

s  Hart  and  Humphrey,  Journal  of  Biol.  Chem.,  19,  No.  1,  p.  127. 

9  See,  e.g.,  Hoard's  Dairyman,  1900,  p.  784;  Live  Stock  and  Dairy  Journal, 
March,  1913,  p.  3;  Pacific  Rural  Press,  January  23,  1915,  p.  120,  and  March  6, 
1915,  p.  289. 


STATION  PUBLICATIONS  AVAILABLE  FOR  DISTRIBUTION 


REPORTS 


1897.      Resistant  Vines,  their  Selection,   Adaptation,   and  Grafting.      Appendix  to  Viticultural 
Report  for   1896. 

1902.  Report  of  the   Agricultural   Experiment   Station   for   1898-1901. 

1903.  Report  of  the  Agricultural   Experiment   Station  for   1901-03. 

1904.  Twenty-second  Report  of  the  Agricultural  Experiment   Station   for    1903-04. 

1914.      Report  of  the  College  of  Agriculture   and  the  Agricultural   Experiment   Station,   Julv, 
1913-June,  1914. 

BULLETINS 


No. 
168. 

169. 
170. 
174. 
177. 


178. 
182. 

183. 
184. 

185. 

195. 
197. 


198. 
203. 

207. 
208. 
211. 

212. 


Observations   on    Some   Vine   Diseases 

in  Sonoma  County. 
Tolerance  of  the  Sugar  Beet  for  Alkali. 
Studies  in  Grasshopper  Control. 
A  New  Wine-Cooling  Machine. 
A    New    Method    of    Making   Dry    Red 

Wine. 
Mosquito   Control. 
Analysis    of    Paris    Green    and    Lead 

Arsenate.    Proposed  Insecticide  Law. 
The  California  Tussock-Moth. 
Report    of    the    Plant    Pathologist    to 

July   1,    1906. 
Report  of  Progress  in   Cereal   Investi- 
gations. 
The  California  Grape  Root-worm. 
Grape  Culture  in  California ;  Improved 

Methods      of     Wine-making;      Yeast 

from   California   Grapes. 
The  Grape  Leaf-Hopper. 
Report    of    the    Plant    Pathologist    to 

July  1,    1909. 
The  Control  of  the  Argentine  Ant. 
The  Late  Blight  of  Celery. 
How  to   Increase  the   Yield   of  Wheat 

in   California. 
California   White   Wheats. 


No. 
213. 
216. 


220. 
225. 
227. 
230. 
234. 
241. 
242. 
243. 

244. 
246. 
248. 

249. 
250. 
251, 


252. 
253. 

254. 
255. 


The   Principles  of  Wine-making. 

A     Progress     Report     upon     Soil     and 

Climatic      Factors      Influencing     the 

Composition  of  Wheat. 
Dosage  Tables. 

Tolerance  of  Eucalyptus  for  Alkali. 
Grape  Vinegar. 
Enological    Investigations. 
Red  Spiders  and  Mites  of  Citrus  Trees. 
Vine  Pruning  in  California.     Part  I. 
Humus  in  California  Soils. 
•  The  Intradermal  Test  for  Tuberculosis 

in  Cattle  and  Hogs. 
Utilization  of  Waste  Oranges. 
Vine  Pruning  in  California.     Part  II. 
The  Economic  Value  of   Pacific  Coast 

Kelps. 
Stock  Poisoning  Plants  of  California. 
The  Loquat. 

Utilization    of    the    Nitrogen    and    Or- 
ganic   Matter    in    Septic    and    Imhoff 

Tank   Sludges. 
Deterioration  of  Lumber. 
Irrigation    and   Soil   Conditions   in   the 

Sierra  Nevada  Foothills,  California. 
The  Avocado  in  California. 
The  Citricola   Scale. 


CIRCULARS 


No. 
65.   The  California   Insecticide  Law. 

69.  The    Extermination   of    Morning-Glory. 

70.  Observations    on    the    Status    of    Corn 

Growing  in  California. 
76.   Hot  Room  Callusing. 

79.  List  of  Insecticide  Dealers. 

80.  Boys'  and  Girls'  Clubs. 

82.  The     Common     Ground     Squirrels     of 

California. 

83.  Potato  Growing  Clubs. 

87.  Alfalfa. 

88.  Advantages  to  the  Breeder  in  Testing 

his  Pure-bred  Cows  for  the  Register 
of  Merit. 

91.  Disinfection  on  the  Farm. 

92.  Infectious    Abortion    and    Sterility    in 

Cows. 

100.  Pruning  Frosted  Citrus  Trees. 

101.  Codling    Moth    Control    in    the    Sacra- 

mento Valley. 

106.  Directions  for  using  Anti-Hog-Cholera 

Serum. 

107.  Spraving  Walnut  Trees  for  Blight  and 

Aphis  Control. 

108.  Grape  Juice. 


No. 
109. 


110. 
111. 

113. 
114. 
115. 
117. 

118. 
119. 
121. 

122. 
123. 

124. 
125. 
126. 
127. 
128. 
129. 
130. 


Communitv  or  Local  Extension  Work 
by  the  High  School  Agricultural  De- 
partment. 

Green  Manuring  in  California. 

The  Use  of  Lime  and  Gypsum  on  Cali- 
fornia Soils. 

Correspondence  Courses  in  Agriculture. 

Increasing  the  Dutv  of  Water. 

Grafting  Vinifera  Vineyards. 

The  Selection  and  Cost  of  a  Small 
Pumping  Plant. 

The  County  Farm  Bureau 

Winery  Directions. 

Some  Things  the  Prospective  Settler 
Should  Know. 

The  Management  of  Strawberry  Soils 
in  Pajaro  Valley. 

Fundamental  Principles  of  Co-opera- 
tion in  Agriculture. 

Alfalfa  Silage  for  Fattening  Steers. 

Aphids  on  Grain  and  Cantaloupes. 

Spraying  for  the  Grape  Leaf  Hopper. 

House  Fumigation. 

Insecticide  Formulas. 

The  Control  of  Citrus  Insects. 

Cabbage  Growing  in  California. 


